'Baby Bell' SBC might buy AT&T
Since its founding by Alexander Graham Bell, AT&T Corp. has been synonymous with the telephone. But the venerable corporate giant once known as "Ma Bell" may soon be eaten by one of its young.

Does your Web site meet your customers' needs?
St. Johns County has a large number of successful small businesses. In the last six or seven years, many have put up Web sites to increase their visibility. Put up a Web site and the customers will come, right? The answer to that question depends on the effectiveness of the Web site's design.

DirectView gets order from Beneficial Holdings
BOCA RATON -- DirectView Inc. a full-service provider of videoconferencing technologies and services, has announced they have received an order from Beneficial Holdings Inc. They plan on using the equipment to contact their clients and manufacturing facilities, Integrated Biopharma.

the Motley Fool
Q: What exactly is the CPI, and how does it measure inflation? -- D.C., Tucson, Ariz.

Former president to sign books at Jax store
JACKSONVILLE -- Books-A-Million Inc. has announced that New York Times bestselling author and former President Jimmy Carter will sign copies of his book "Sharing Good Times" at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Regency Park location of Books-A-Million in Jacksonville.

P&G in $57 billion deal for Gillette
NEW YORK -- Procter & Gamble Co., the leading U.S. maker of household products whose brands include Crest, Pampers, Tide and Charmin, is buying the razor and battery maker Gillette Co. for $57 billion in a deal that will create the world's biggest consumer-products enterprise, the companies announced Friday.

Business booming in NW
Morley Zachman has been handing out chamber membership packets throughout the Northwest. She said she finds new businesses each time she's out there.

Looking back at high school: Oh, those good old years
I never thought I'd refer to high school as the good ol' years. In fact, when I was trapped inside those four tedious years, I by no means thought I'd actually graduate. I was sure I would be struck by a bus or train, or plummet to my death in the cabin of an airplane before graduation day June 2002.

Book mobile
The following is the schedule for the St. Johns County Public Library System's book mobile for the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4.

Social Security Q&A
Q: I am about to turn age 62 and plan to file for Social Security. Can I get my own Social Security benefit AND a wife's benefit based on my husband's Social Security work record? He is 66 and already getting Social Security.

Legal clinics, other programs available at COA
The St. Johns County Council on Aging Inc. is offering a legal clinic from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Thursday through March at the Coastal Community Center Conference Room, 180 Marine St. Participants are invited to join attorney and COA board president Joe Boles for a complimentary lunch and legal clinic.

TaxAide programs begin Tuesday
Beginning the first week of February, local volunteers in the AARP-IRS-sponsored TaxAide program will again be setting up shop at various locations in this area, ready to help people prepare their 2004 tax returns.

Daytime Dial
Read a synopsis of major plot developments in last weeks daytime television.

Should he stay in England or come to Hollywood?
HOLLYWOOD -- The morning of the day he was to return home to England, James Nesbitt sat smoking in the patio of a Sunset Strip hotel, hung over but with his moss-green eyes still piercingly clear, and considered the newest phase of what he calls his "absurdly lucky" career.

Skin care sans chemicals isn't possible
I recently read an article about infant skincare, which advised that sunscreen not be applied to infants until they're 6 months of age because the chemicals are absorbed by their skin and go into their bloodstream. This got me thinking about my own sunscreen lotion and the chemicals my skin is absorbing.

Stylishly toasty
When you think of a down coat, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Warmth? Coziness? A profile resembling the Michelin Man?

Tip of the week
You can plant those amaryllis bulbs you got during the holidays outside now.

Garden Hotline: Space landscape plants in order to save money
Spring is just around the corner and it is a time when many people do their major landscape improvements for the year. Landscaping is an investment that -- pardon the pun -- continues to grow. If you are installing plants yourself, one way to save money is to not plant things too close together.

Briefs
An Orchid Workshop, in which you can get your orchid repotted, will be held at Art's Nursery, 2850 Racetrack Road, from 10 a.m. to noon, Feb. 19.

Your Gardening Q&A
Q. I was given a spruce tree for Christmas. Can I expect it to survive here?

What to do about downed or damaged trees in your yard
Last year's devastating hurricanes across Florida left behind an extraordinary amount of property damage. Thousands of trees were damaged by the heavy winds of hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne in our area.

'A Creative Endeavor'
Woodland Garden Circle has selected the Lake Shore Drive home of Elli Steiger and her husband Charles Coleman for Garden of the Month honors. The two have lived in their home for 10 years.

Dr. Donohue: Drink from disposable cups
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My son's coach informed the team that some players have contracted hand, foot and mouth disease and told them not to put their mouths on water bottles.

Found money terrifies neighborhood
DALLAS -- A convenience store owner in one of Dallas' poorest neighborhoods was amazed when she started seeing children from the elementary school across the street buying candy and chips with $100 bills.

Suspect in train derailment appears in court
LOS ANGELES -- A man charged with murder for allegedly triggering the collision of two commuter trains during an aborted suicide attempt appeared in court Friday, but the hearing was delayed so the suspect could undergo further medical evaluation.

Iraqis begin voting in the U.S.
SOUTHGATE, Mich. -- Adim Altalibi struggled to hold back tears Friday after voting in an Iraqi election for the first time. All he could think about were his five nephews, all killed under Saddam Hussein's regime.

Freezing rain, sleet shuts down highways and flights in Southeast
ATLANTA -- Freezing rain and sleet coated parts of the Southeast with a layer of ice Saturday, canceling hundreds of airline flights, knocking out power to thousands of customers and shutting down sections of every interstate highway in the metro Atlanta area.

Giant pearl tied to death, family fights
DENVER -- Legend has it the so-called Pearl of Allah was created as a symbol of peace 2,500 years ago in ancient China. To Victor Barbish, the 14-pound gem has been nothing but a big headache.

Correction
WRONG LOCATION -- The dateline about a story that ran on A1 Saturday about a fire at Sea Market Seafood & Restaurant read "St. Augustine Beach," but the restaurant is outside St. Augustine Beach city limits.

Today in History
On Jan. 30, 1968, during the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive began as Communist forces launched surprise attacks against South Vietnamese provincial capitals.

Meticulous care secret to Bartram Trail's super field
NORTHWEST ST. JOHNS COUNTY -- Alan Vizcaino, 16, knelt down on the 1/2 inch densely packed rye grass and started cutting into it with a curved knife. He started trimming the grass away from a rectangular, green-painted steel drain cover.

Four injured in C.R. 210 crash
Four people were injured in a crash on County Road 210, about five miles west of U.S. 1 on Saturday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Island restaurant burns
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH -- The roof was left dangling into the charred remains of the family-owned Sea Market Seafood and Restaurant. It is a total loss -- $300,000 estimated in damages, officials said.

For The Record
Developers will hold a community meeting to discuss a proposed, 50-home project in Northwest St. Johns County.

Civil Rights Movement remembered
They were beaten for participating in marches and sit-ins. They were threatened and turned-away from "white only" establishments.

Osprey names narrowed down
The entries are in. Ten names were selected. Now it's time to vote for the Mickler-O'Connell Bridge osprey's name.

Man sentenced in boy's death
For the next 4,380 days of his life, Pedro Mercado Jr. will share his prison cell with the photograph of a 12-year-old boy whose life he took while driving drunk and speeding on Masters Drive in February 2004.

Violence kills two Americans in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A rocket struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad late Saturday, killing two Americans and wounding five others despite a strict lockdown by U.S. and Iraqi forces across much of the country on the anxious eve of Iraq's landmark national elections.

Police Report
The St. Augustine Humane Society meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Watson Realty Office, 3946 A1A South, St. Augustine Beach. This will be an open meeting and public attendance is welcome.

Motorcycle crash claims rider
A Michigan man was killed in a motorcycle crash on State Road A1A on Thursday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Most dangerous intersections identified
They share piles of traffic, plenty of speeders and drivers who run red lights. U.S. 1 and State Road 16 carry the distinction of having the most serious crashes in St. Johns County.

Accord reached on firefighters contract
St. Augustine firefighters will get three salary "bumps" plus extra percentage allowances on their pensions if their union local -- and the City Commission -- approves a compromise that the city's negotiator proposed Friday.

For The Record
The St. Augustine Humane Society meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Watson Realty Office, 3946 A1A South, St. Augustine Beach. This will be an open meeting and public attendance is welcome.

Wilma Kincaid Vestal
Wilma Kincaid Vestal, 79, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 28, 2005, at home. She was born in Meigs County, Tenn. Mrs. Vestal and her late husband, Hubert "Joe," moved to St. Augustine in 1958 and opened Guns Motel in St Augustine Beach.

Robert Frank Williams
Robert Frank Williams Jr., 78, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 27, 2005, at St. Augustine Health and Rehabilitation Center. A native of Brandt, Pa., Mr. Williams lived here since 1979. Mr. Williams was a laborer with the Florida Department of Transportation. He was of the Baptist faith.

John Herman Bauer
John Herman Bauer, 71 of St Augustine, died Jan. 29, 2005 at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born in Miami and had resided in St Augustine since 1964. He served in the U.S. Army. He started and was director of the 911 Emergency System for St Johns County. He was a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.

Wilma Kincaid Vestal
Wilma Kincaid Vestal, age 79, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 28, 2005 at home. She was born in Meigs County, Tenn. Mrs.Vestal and her late husband Hubert "Joe" moved to St. Augustine in 1958 and opened Guns Motel in St. Augustine Beach. In 1960's she became the first post mistress in St. Augustine Beach. Later she owned and operated the Beacon Street Dress Shop until she retired. Mrs. Vestal attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was a longtime member of Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she enjoyed being a tour guide. She was a member of the Flagler Hospital Auxillary and had served as its president from 1972-1974.

David Ruel Simboli
David Ruel Simboli, 86, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 27, 2005, at his home. He was a native of New York City and had resided in St. Augustine since 1999. He was a liberal arts professor and was unitarian.

Creative photography
Students in the Bartram Trail High School creative photography 1 class of Matthew Franke got a taste of negative sandwiching last semester.

Fair season for St. Johns County 4-H'ers
St. Johns County 4-H'ers have been outperforming the competition during this year's fair season and were determined to keep their streaks alive on their home turf during the St. Johns County Fair. The 4-H'ers did not disappoint, posting multiple wins in several competitions against teams from Clay, Duval, Flagler and other surrounding counties. Their next stop will be the state fair in Tampa in February.

What's with the weather?
It's looking like a crazy year for weather, and January isn't over yet. Already we've seen record rains in California, floods in the Midwest and snow in south Texas. Has Mother Nature gone bonkers?

Iraqis' day of choice
WASHINGTON -- Iraqi citizens are set to vote in an election where they have real choices. Today's election is considered a key step toward having the Iraqi people create democracy for themselves. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003 and brought an end to the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. When Saddam was in power, Iraqis voted for him because they were afraid not to.

PACE kids making a Splash!
Elementary students in the PACE (Program for Academic and Creative Endeavors) gifted program at The Webster School have begun work on a student-produced television show designed to give the students a fun, unique and collaborative learning experience.

Brrr! A great time to enjoy a tale of summer warmth
The third book in the series of "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants," titled "Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares (Delacorte Press, $16.95), is such an enjoyable book about the summer of four longtime girlfriends that you have to wonder why the publishers released it in the dead of winter. Ahhh! But maybe that's the point. What better way to travel to hot fun in the summertime in January than by escaping through a literary voyage.

Around Florida
Read excerpts from editorials around the state on the weeks most-discussed topics.

Perspective: Getting used to the Super Bowl 'buzz'
Super Bowl XXXIX is almost here. I wish the Atlanta Falcons or the Jacksonville Jaguars were suiting up for the big game Feb. 6 at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium. The Falcons came so close and it would have been fun to cheer wide receiver Brian Finneran -- with family relations ties to St. Augustine.

Letter: Circuses a cruel life for animal 'stars'
Editor: It's circus time again; the time when traveling circuses and their captive wild animals "stars" hit the road. Using animals in circuses is an unnecessary and cruel practice that also threatens public safety.

Letter: It is time to come home
Editor: The national discussion on Iraq has now entered a new phase. When are we going to pull out? This is a question that should not be decided by the American government in a unilateral way. We have the safety and the wishes of the Iraqi people to consider.

Letter: Businessman lauds city
Editor: AARRRRGH!! ...the frustrating and daunting task of opening a new business, especially in an environment where the almighty institution of government deems itself proprietary over the small business person.

Letter: There is no safe sex; abstinence is working
Editor: Abstinence has definitely worked in St. Johns County! We have had a 43 percent reduction in teen births to 15- to 17-year-olds over a six-year period. That is one of the best track records in the nation. We must not speak from emotions, instead, we need to speak from facts and research.

Reader' Rants: Stop the Development
Stop the development! Everywhere I go I see the orange signs for zone changes. Then the bulldozers come. They are destroying what makes this a nice place to live. The quality of life is declining. We see less wildlife. We see more noise and traffic. Overcrowding and rising prices are driving young people away. Stop these greedy developers from getting wealthy at our expense.

Editorial
Mystery man "Lonesome Larry" continues to grab headlines this week after taking out a $17,000 full-page display ad in the Florida Times-Union this week. The ad was bought to woo back his wife of 17 years -- who left him.

Around the world
Read excerpts from editorials around the world on the weeks most-discussed topics.

Flagler loses Reyes for year
The Flagler College mens basketball team suffered another big blow with the news that senior forward Robbie Reyes will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

From the typewriter . . .
I can't believe the most popular golfer in the world has gone and gotten himself hitched. Personally, I think this new wife could really wreak havoc on Arnie's golf game. . .

Look who's back: Georgetown men enjoy hoops boost
WASHINGTON -- In his first game as Georgetown's coach, John Thompson III looked in his players' faces in the halftime huddle and was suddenly struck by the full impact of the Hoyas' struggles of recent years.

Philly not thinking about a letdown
PHILADELPHIA -- Donovan McNabb held the NFC championship trophy above his head, closed his eyes and savored the moment. Brian Dawkins clutched it in his arms, took a lap around the field, and handed it off to teammates to pass around the same way hockey players treat the Stanley Cup.

Irwin takes two-stroke lead at Turtle Bay
KAHUKU, Hawaii -- Four-time defending champion Hale Irwin shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Allen Doyle after two rounds of the Turtle Bay Championship.

Belichick and Lombardi? Hardly a farce
JACKSONVILLE -- Super Bowl winners giddily hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Yes, even dour, determined Bill Belichick smiled like a kid at recess when he lifted the prize twice in the last three years.

Report: Cubs, Orioles close on Sosa deal
NEW YORK -- The Chicago Cubs were close to agreement on a trade to send unhappy slugger Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles, several high-ranking baseball officials told The Associated Press.

Catholic cardinals promote education
MIAMI (AP) -- The seven Roman Catholic cardinals leading U.S. dioceses stressed the importance of Catholic education Friday at The Catholic University of America's annual dinner and liturgy.

Wrong man held in jail for 54 days on forgery charge
KISSIMMEE (AP) -- Hector Collazo complained to anyone who would listen that he was the victim of identify theft, but he sat in the Osceola County jail for 54 days by mistake on a Texas forgery warrant for a different man.

About 230 people on ship get sick
TAMPA (AP) -- About 230 people on a Holland America cruise ship came down with a gastrointestinal illness on a Caribbean voyage, forcing the trip to end early.

Coast Guard, families mark 25th year since Blackthorn disaster
ST. PETERSBURG (AP) -- Twenty-five years after the U.S. Coast Guard suffered its worst peacetime disaster with the death of 23 crew members in a collision with a freighter, bereaved family members and military officials remembered the Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn on Friday.

NASA still has recommendations to complete on shuttle
ORLANDO (AP) -- While there are no major hurdles to prevent NASA from launching a space shuttle in May or June, a task force overseeing return-to-flight efforts continued Friday to worry about crew members' ability to make repairs in space.

Fantasy 5 rolls over
TALLAHASSEE (AP) -- No ticket matched all five numbers in the "Fantasy 5" game, the Florida Lottery said Friday.

Privatization advocate quit before critical report
TAMPA (AP) -- Chris Card, one of the architects of Florida's child-welfare privatization program, stepped down days before the release of a state report questioning his handling of agency contracts and equipment and his acceptance of free tickets to sports events.

Terri Schiavo's parents ask judge to let her live
CLEARWATER -- Terri Schiavo should have been represented by her own attorney through all of the legal proceedings over whether she should live or die, a lawyer for her family argued Friday in the latest legal effort to keep the severely brain-damaged woman's feeding tube intact.

Jets, celebs, CEOs will pack county's airport
Drivers on U.S. 1 passing St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport a few days before Super Bowl XXXIX will notice more than 200 jumbo, corporate and private jets parked wing-to-wing on the tarmac.

Security and Law Enforcement
Whether serving as team escorts or private party security for Super Bowl events, police will have a chance to work around celebrities and pick up some extra money.

Romantic Paris
PARIS -- How do you celebrate Valentine's Day in Paris -- an obvious romantic destination for courting lovers?

Travel briefs
PORT EVERGLADES (AP) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has started screening those celebrating Mass on cruise ships, a plan geared toward preventing former, rental and even fraudulent priests from ministering to Catholic passengers.

California's Big Sur offers a simple beauty
GORDA, Calif. -- Once upon a time, a young couple purchased a hillside parcel on the southern Big Sur coast and dreamed of retiring there someday, turning an abandoned lumberyard into a family-run bed-and-breakfast.

World Forum report labels Iraq a beacon for Islamic militants
DAVOS, Switzerland -- The war in Iraq has become a homing beacon for Islamic militancy, threatening to destabilize neighboring countries and embolden terrorists to attack elsewhere, a senior RAND Corp. analyst told business and political elites at the World Economic Forum Saturday.

Iraqis announce capture of al-Zarqawi deputies
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi government said it's captured three top operatives of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's terrorist network, announcing the arrests Friday in an apparent effort to calm Iraqis rattled by violence two days before national elections.

Changing sex in Iran
TEHRAN, Iran -- Whispering like conspirators, the two cousins hook their thumbs in their belt loops, skim cocky eyes over the women and swivel, stiff-legged from their hips, like the men they have become. Across the room, and a few steps away on the gender spectrum, a man with shaggy hair wrinkles a pug nose in the mirror and struggles to drape a silky scarf over his head in the style of Islamic womanhood.

Sweden's oldest twins turn 100
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- They have lived for 200 years between them, but Sweden's oldest twins had never seen anything like this before.